Overview
NVDA provides comprehensive support for braille displays, allowing you to read NVDA’s output in braille and enter text using a braille keyboard. Braille settings control which display is used, how information is presented, and how braille input is handled. Access Braille Settings: PressNVDA+control+a or navigate to Preferences > Settings > Braille in the NVDA menu.
Braille Display Selection
Choosing a Display
Select Display
In the Display dropdown, choose:
- Automatic (recommended) - Detects connected displays automatically
- Your specific display model
- No braille - Disable braille output
Configure Connection (if needed)
Some displays require you to specify:
- Connection port (USB, Bluetooth, Serial)
- Baud rate (for serial connections)
Supported Displays
NVDA supports a wide range of braille displays, including:- Freedom Scientific (Focus, PAC Mate)
- Handy Tech (various models)
- HIMS (Braille Sense, Braille Edge)
- HumanWare (Brailliant, BrailleNote)
- Papenmeier (BRAILLEX series)
- Baum/VisioBraille (various models)
- Eurobraille (Esys, Esytime, b.book)
- Alva (BC series)
- And many more…
Automatic Display Detection
When set to Automatic, NVDA continuously scans for supported braille displays in the background.How it works:
- Checks USB connections
- Scans Bluetooth devices
- Automatically connects when a display is found
- Reconnects if connection is lost
Some displays may require driver installation before NVDA can detect them. Check your display manufacturer’s instructions.
Translation Tables
Translation tables define how text is converted to braille and vice versa.Output Translation Table
The translation table used to convert text to braille for display.Common options:
- Unified English Braille (UEB) Grade 1 - Uncontracted braille
- Unified English Braille (UEB) Grade 2 - Contracted braille
- Computer Braille (8-dot) - Shows all characters including control codes
- Language-specific tables (e.g., French, German, Spanish)
Grade 2 braille is more compact but requires knowledge of braille contractions.
Input Translation Table
The translation table used to interpret braille input from your display’s keyboard.Typical options:
- Unified English Braille (UEB) Grade 1 - Uncontracted
- Unified English Braille (UEB) Grade 2 - Contracted
- Computer Braille (8-dot)
- Language-specific input tables
Braille Mode
Controls what information is displayed on the braille display.Options:Follow cursors - Shows text at the cursor position (most common)
- Displays content at system focus or review cursor
- Automatically switches context as you navigate
- Displays spoken messages on braille
- Useful for following speech output in braille
Cursor Settings
Cursor Display
Shows a cursor on the braille display to indicate position.When enabled, the braille cursor indicates:
- Focus position (system cursor)
- Review cursor position
Makes the cursor blink to make it easier to locate.
Range: 200-2000 millisecondsControls how fast the cursor blinks.
- 200ms: Very fast blink
- 500ms: Medium speed (default)
- 2000ms: Slow blink
Cursor Shape
Range: 1-255Defines which dots are raised to show the focus cursor.Default value 192 = dots 7 and 8 (bottom two dots)
This is a binary representation of an 8-dot braille cell where each bit represents a dot.
Range: 1-255Defines which dots are raised to show the review cursor.Default value 128 = dot 8 only
Display Behavior
Tethering
Controls what the braille display follows.Options:
- Automatically: Follows focus by default, but follows review cursor when explicitly moved
- Focus: Always follows the system focus/caret
- Review: Always follows the review cursor
NVDA+control+t (cycles through options)Text Presentation
When enabled, braille displays text by paragraphs instead of by lines.Benefits:
- More natural reading flow
- Better context when reading
- May require more panning for long paragraphs
Prevents words from being split across the edge of the display.When enabled:
- Words stay together
- May leave empty cells at line end
- Uses full display width
- Words may be split
When reading contracted braille (Grade 2), automatically expands the word at the cursor to uncontracted braille.Example: Shows full spelling at cursor position even when rest of display uses contractions.
Message Display
Controls how messages appear on the braille display.Options:
- Disabled: Don’t show messages on braille
- Use timeout: Show messages temporarily, then restore previous content
- Show indefinitely: Messages remain until dismissed
Range: 1-20 secondsHow long messages remain visible when “Use timeout” is selected.
Context Information
Controls how context information is displayed when focus changes.Options:Changed context - Only shows context that has changed
- Most efficient use of display space
- Only shows new information
- More complete context
- May obscure focus content
- Keeps focus item visible
- Shows context progressively
Selection Display
When enabled, selected text is indicated using dots 7 and 8.Useful for:
- Knowing what text is selected
- Editing operations
- Visual feedback in braille
Advanced Braille Settings
Unicode Normalization
Normalizes Unicode characters before converting to braille.May improve braille rendering for:
- Accented characters
- Special symbols
- Mathematical notation
Paragraph Markers
Marks the beginning of paragraphs in braille.Options:
- None: No marker
- Space: Single space before paragraphs
- Pilcrow (¶): Paragraph symbol
Routing Behavior
Controls whether routing to a position while in review mode moves the system caret.Options:
- Never: Routing only moves review cursor
- Always: Routing also moves system caret
- When in native focus mode: Context-dependent
When enabled, NVDA speaks the character or word you route to.
When enabled, NVDA speaks content when navigating by character, word, or line using braille display keys.
Speech Integration
When enabled, scrolling the braille display interrupts speech.Benefits:
- Reduces audio clutter
- Lets you read silently in braille
- Speech continues while scrolling
- Useful for simultaneous audio and braille feedback
Live Regions
When enabled, NVDA shows ARIA live region updates in braille.Examples of live regions:
- Chat messages
- Stock tickers
- Social media notifications
- Dynamic web content
Font Formatting
Controls how font formatting is shown in braille.Options:
- LibLouis: Uses LibLouis-based formatting indicators
- Text attributes: Shows text formatting descriptions
- Off: No formatting indicators
Braille Input
Many braille displays have braille keyboards for text entry.Input Methods
Uncontracted Braille
Uncontracted Braille
Text is entered one character at a time as you type.Benefits:
- Simple and predictable
- No need to know contractions
- Immediate feedback
Contracted Braille
Contracted Braille
Text is buffered until you press space or enter, then translated.Benefits:
- Faster input for experienced users
- More efficient
Computer Braille
Computer Braille
Eight-dot braille representing ASCII characters.Benefits:
- Can enter any character
- Useful for programming
- Shows control characters
Standard Braille Commands
These are standard braille input commands. Your specific display may have additional keys.
- Dot 7: Backspace (erases last cell/character)
- Dot 8: Enter (submit braille input)
- Dot 7 + Dot 8: Translate without adding space or pressing enter
Braille Viewer
The Braille Viewer shows braille output on screen, useful for:- Sighted people learning braille
- Demonstrations and training
- Debugging braille output
- Working without a physical display
Enabling Braille Viewer
From menu: NVDA menu > Tools > Braille Viewer From Braille Viewer settings:When enabled, Braille Viewer opens automatically when NVDA starts.
When enabled, hovering over a braille cell with the mouse will route to that position.
Range: 0.0+How long to hover before routing activates.
Range: 20-160Number of braille cells to display in the Braille Viewer window.
Troubleshooting Braille
Display not detected
Display not detected
Check:
- Display is powered on and connected
- USB/Bluetooth connection is active (check Windows device manager)
- Display drivers are installed (if required)
- Display is not in use by another screen reader
- Try “Automatic” in display selection
- Try manually selecting your specific display model
- Pair the display in Windows Bluetooth settings first
- Some displays require a specific pairing mode
Braille output is incorrect
Braille output is incorrect
Check:
- Correct translation table is selected
- Language settings match your content
- Unicode normalization setting (try toggling)
- Display firmware is up to date
- Try Computer Braille to see raw output
- Verify you’re using the correct grade (1 vs 2)
- Check if “Expand at cursor” helps
Cursor not visible
Cursor not visible
Check:
- “Show cursor” is enabled
- “Cursor blink” is enabled
- Cursor shape is properly configured (non-zero value)
- Display isn’t in a special mode
- Try changing cursor shape to 255 (all dots)
Input not working
Input not working
Check:
- Input table is configured
- Display is in braille keyboard mode (not QWERTY mode)
- Display keyboard is enabled in display settings
- Try computer braille input table
Display keeps disconnecting
Display keeps disconnecting
Possible causes:
- USB power management (disable in device properties)
- Bluetooth interference or range issues
- Faulty cable
- Low battery on wireless displays
- USB hub problems (try direct connection)
Braille-Specific Keyboard Commands
Global Braille Commands
| Action | Command |
|---|---|
| Scroll braille display back | NVDA+leftArrow |
| Scroll braille display forward | NVDA+rightArrow |
| Tether braille to | NVDA+control+t |
| Braille settings | NVDA+control+a |
Display-specific commands vary by manufacturer. Consult your display’s documentation for routing keys, scrolling buttons, and other hardware controls.
Related Topics
- NVDA Settings - General configuration
- Speech Settings - Audio output configuration
- Braille Input - Detailed braille keyboard usage
- Supported Braille Displays - Complete list with key assignments